How the world can help Sudanese refugees and their host countries
A refugee crisis is one of the negative consequences of armed domestic conflict. The ongoing clashes between Sudan’s military and a rival paramilitary force have severe implications and repercussions not only for the people of Sudan, but also for the countries that are receiving the refugees fleeing the violence.
People in an affected country tend to escape their homeland not only due to the violence and destruction, but also because of the shortage of basic necessities that the war creates.
The situation is exacerbated when the country is already suffering from infrastructure underdevelopment, a poor healthcare system, water scarcity and environmental issues.
For example, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has made Sudan’s humanitarian situation much worse, leading to shortages of food, water and fuel, higher inflation and rising prices, as well as limited electricity.
Thousands of people have been killed and many others have been forced to flee their homes in order to find safety and shelter, either in other parts of Sudan or in neighboring countries.
According to the International Organization for Migration’s June 20 Displacement Tracking Matrix report, about 2.5 million people have been “displaced within and outside Sudan since the onset of the conflict on April 15. Nearly 2 million people are internally displaced, mostly in Northern (18 percent), West Darfur (15 percent), River Nile (14 percent) and White Nile (12.5 percent) states.” In addition to the internally displaced, more than 520,000 people had crossed into neighboring countries as of June 18, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
As the conflict continues, the refugee crisis is getting worse, affecting several other countries in particular. Sudan shares borders with seven countries — Libya, Egypt, Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
One of the main issues is that the countries receiving the Sudanese refugees are generally not fully prepared for such an influx and are already struggling with their own challenges.
A primary destination for refugees from Sudan is Egypt. More than 170,000 refugees have arrived in Egypt so far and it is expected that hundreds of thousands more will arrive over the coming months.
It is worth noting that Sudan and Egypt enjoy deep ties and local charities and volunteers have been going out of their way to help the refugees arriving from Sudan. However, Egypt is struggling with its own economic problems.
Another destination for the Sudanese is Chad, which is one of the poorest countries in the world. Chad was already hosting more than half a million refugees from Sudan before the conflict erupted in April. The refugees in Chad were mainly Sudanese who had fled the conflict in Darfur.
It is important to recognize that peace, stability and security are vital and necessary for the sustainable return of Sudanese refugees.
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh
Most of the Sudanese refugees in Chad are living in refugee camps and host communities. The level of underdevelopment in the country is alarming, which makes the situation much worse.
As the US Agency for International Development has pointed out: “Only about 6 percent of the population has access to electricity, and only 8 percent has access to basic sanitation. Adult literacy is 22 percent. Life expectancy is only 53 years. Around three-quarters of all births take place without the attendance of a skilled health professional.”
It is worth noting that refugees can have a significant impact not only on the economy of the host nation, but also on its social, political and even environmental landscapes. The hosts tend to face more political and economic strain if they are not prepared for the situation.
There are two different approaches the international community can take to assist the Sudanese refugees and the destination countries.
First of all, the international community ought to increase its attempts to help the host countries that are lacking resources so that they can provide the required social services to refugees. And if the host countries have the capability to cover the needs of the refugees and help them integrate into society, this initial investment can have several benefits for them in the long term.
Secondly, the most effective approach over the long term is to continue employing diplomacy and dialogue in order to reach a resolution between the warring factions in Sudan, which would facilitate the safe return of refugees who want to return to their home country. It is important to recognize that peace, stability and security are vital and necessary for the sustainable return of Sudanese refugees.
In conclusion, it is incumbent on the international community to provide assistance to the countries that are receiving refugees from Sudan. Sudanese refugees continue to pour into countries that do not have the resources to deal with this tragic situation. The escalation of the conflict in Sudan is having severe repercussions not only for the Sudanese people, but also for neighboring countries.
